Severing ties with parents...

You're right about getting out there and throwing caution to the wind and doing something about your situation, that I agree with, but to say your generation will have it harder than mine or my parents generation is totally wrong.

This is Murica, land of the free, home of the brave, remember? Tell some guy who just came over from another country with nothing but the clothes on his back and a dream of being FREE that there is no opportunity in this country. Immigrants, illegal and legal alike, all come here because it's the best country to live in the world, and offers the most opporunity, the American Dream still exists, but you won't find it thinking that way.

As much as the economy has sucked lately, it's still better than the alternative. Plenty of jobs out there, just gotta open your mind some and see what's available. Trying to follow in your Father's footsteps is too cliche bro, don't fall into that trap and limit yourself. Some would turn their noses up at a McDougal's job, but I could walk down the street right now and find 10 people in an hour who probably would be happy to have that job (better than panhandling), so keep that in mind when you're out in the world and don't see anything opportunties.

 

I don't know man, Bill's Nephew has a point. I mean, the economy in this country ain't what it used to be. We used to make things. We're totally consumer based now. Things change and opportunity is one of those. I've done everything "by the book" and still got sh*t on. I'm convinced the economy is being coaxed into an implosion on purpose. I've been researching this stuff since 2008. I am utterly convinced that when it comes to global economics nothing just happens, everything is planned to some degree.

 

You crying lack of opportunity? Gotta be $hittin me. You're the last person to say that if you also said everything's been handed to you. So there's things out there that you want but don't think you're set up to get? If you really want them, you'll find a way. No sense talking about my own life here, but I've been up $hit's creek for most of it whether it was not having things handed to me or for squandering the first opportunities I was given. So I pushed through and did all that was necessary to create my own opportunities and maximize them. We only have so much control over the world around us, but are adaptive by simple nature and we will prevail if we exhaust all in our power and available to us.

A military officer is managing the enlisted. This is our national defense system here. "Leading the troops", you know? So they're supposed to roll a red carpet out to a kid that may have never got up at 4am once ever when he's supposed to lead PT or formation 30-60 minutes from that time each day?

Have you looked into OCS and filed any initial paperwork with MEPS? Have you researched what boot camp entails, let alone the schools that follow it specific to OCS and A-school if you're an exceptional performer out of the exceptional population? Why do you consider a military officer career? Because its sounds valiant or your father did it? Or because declining all the pleasures and benefits of civilian life (that are protected by the military) are a small exchange to you for the desired life of duty towards man and country?

If you do happen to have a core of integrity somewhere inside of you, look into the process. There are many, many DQ factors but saying it's not available to you because of GPA or anything on merit is a false statement. If that's your DQ, it WAS available to you before you decided not to earn elite marks. If it's truly for you, and I'm betting it's not (only you know that), go talk to the right recruiter (not just any when it comes to OCS), take your ASVAB, and see how it goes.

Yes, much of the world was very different when your father went OCS. War was far differently executed, we had presidents that consistently supported military spending, we had a higher need of troops, and the pool of applicants was not the product of a soft society. You're also talking about USCG which has next to no spots for OCS as well as Navy OCS which has several entry routes but is very selective. Have you read up on Army National Guard? You can even enter on your state's level. Much simpler route of entry than the others and still plenty to be proud of and serve your fellow man. Who do you think was called in by the tens of thousands to assist with Sandy last October? ANG.

 

You're talking about the big picture, large scale, and "global" scene. All you need is to find a way to make the life you want. The remaining 6 billion people in this world described as suppressing have nothing to do with your success. Go make it happen for yourself. You could live in a third world nation right now where AIDS is rampant as are other pandemics, not to mention zero resources of anything including water supply. No water. Think about it. Not to surf on, but to drink and bathe in. Still talking lack of opportunity now? You want your Beamer, Benz, or Bentley while a village many miles away wants their next cup of water.

 

Thank you. PAY YOUR DUES. MAKE IT HAPPEN. FIND A WAY.

A little less talk and a lot more action would do you more good than you know.

 

Emass, is it true when they say that first hit of meth in the morning is the best?

 

Son, I'm early 30s and one of the most optimistic, content people out there. You don't know a damn thing about me. Or the world it seems. So reserve comment on others' lives until you begin to live yours.

Your "generation in general" sucks. Partly due to improper rearing by nuclear home and society (improper meaning suppression and inhibiting personal growth), and partly due to a rampant void or resilience, ambition, autonomy, and relentlessness pursuit of goal achievement in the face of adversity. Focus less on the consortium of peers that are crying victim like you and just go make it happen no matter what stands in your way.

Our parents "were set" not because of handouts. They were set because they were more likely to have core values that most lack today. Their moral code told them it was right to have loyalty, duty, commitment, and perseverance. Was it a perfect place? Far from it. But very accountable as a whole and one that proliferated itself successfully despite having major societal barriers (Civil Rights, counterculture, Vietnam, etc.) in the way. A nation still finding itself and most people got er done.

Speaking of...go talk to an elderly African-American about what segregation was like. You might have a new definition of "lack of opportunity" after that.

Bet you're pissed that NASA won't let you be an astronaut or that Major League Baseball won't let you forgo the minor leagues so you can go straight to big league ball player like many a kid grows up dreaming of.

Get your own pot to piss in, with your name on it. Piss in that pot for an extended time period. Learn something (anything) about life, then we can talk.

 

Will you PLEASE answer the man's question?

 

Wouldn't know from experience. But graduate level study on psychopharmacology told me that you need some time off from the drug to let your receptors upgrade and then your next dose will shoot you to the moon. You'll have a hard time chewing your breakfast without those teeth, not that it matters since you'll have no appetite.

For me though, the first sight of the Atlantic when I look out my window in the morning IS the best. Just like the first wave of the day.

 

This. Yeah. Oh.....yeah.

 

Directed at me? What man and what question?

 

Haha, THE DUDE ABIDES.

Just because I'm dropping knowledge on those needing it in no ways makes me lacking calmness. I'm not aggro at all today, but I'm definitely stoked to hit first waves of the week now that there's some swell at all. So if stoked, jubilant, and enthusiastic makes me not calm, I guess you're right on!

 

Yes Emass directed at you...and no, you don't have to respond to this as well.

 

"Waiving The F'ing Gun Around!!!!???"

 

Wow, is that what you call it?

 

Of course I don't have to. But aren't you glad I did?

Gotta get moving now and head to the break. Chest high with offshores at optimal tide. Thanks to this, I can now cancel my order for that Arizonan wave pool that was being loaded for freight shipment. Have fun in whatever cubicle cage or parents' basement yous guys are rocking out in today!

 

Agree and disagree... I'm around the same age as you. I think our parents had it easier as far as buying a home. I know my parents would have never been able to buy their home today the way they did in the 70's. The price of homes has gone up so much more than the average salary.

That being said. You can still get a job and rent a place. I'm just saying buying a home is way more difficult for us than it was our parents.

As for the illegals. A good portion are not living the "American Dream." They live in small apartments with a lot of people and send all their $ back home to their families. Once they have sent enough they go back and are living the dream back in their home country.... Not all of them, but a good amount.

 

Without reading all the pages of jibberish... i will add my 2 cents that I learned from experiance... I would say stay with the parents for as long as possible- or at least until you can save up some money to put a good down payment on a house...

I moved out right after high school- from PA to NJ and lived with my uncle for a short time. Then got an appartment- i was probably around 20... it was really cool- granted... and i was living 'the life' - surfing all the time!! living a few blocks to the beach- working an easy job... but now looking back and with a little more wisdom at the same time looking forward at family and stability- its alot of hard work to try to dig out of the rent situation unless you got a sweet job. I rented for years and look back and feel like renting is basically throwing away money... now money is not everything, but you will need it to live and to provide for your family.
Maybe I sound like an old dude or something- but I would suggest staying- even if its one year and bank almost all your paycheck to buy a house instead of renting. If you can buy now- go for it. Also-family is pretty important, you find that out the older you get... so live it up while you can with the parents!

 

I hear ya, but I don't think it's more difficult to buy a house if you have job, good credit, and low debt / income ratio. If you have bad credit, or a high debt / income ratio or no job then that would be true, but it would also be the person's fault for putting themselves in that situation, so it's not the banks fault or the economy for that matter. Plus, there are programs available to help 1st time home buyers. If my in-laws can get another house after losing their last one and doing a "short sale" (fancy word for foreclosure), ANYBODY can get a house HAHA.

I agree with you on the illegals though, they sure do like to pack into a small apartment / house and save up all their money to send back home, but that's THEIR choice, they could just as easily decide to make a real life right here in the states if they were to become LEGAL. And honestly, If they aren't legal, then I could give a rats ass if they live the American Dream, because they are in fact, NOT AMERICAN HAHAHA